Man May Go to Jail for Killing Bear in Self-Defense on his Own Property

Auburn, Massachusetts: — An Auburn man may face charges from the state for killing a bear in self-defense after the animal had wandered into his back yard.

Richard Ahlstrand reported to a local TV station that the bear that wandered onto his property stood seven feet tall and weighed up to 400 pounds. It began to chase him and the man felt his life was in jeopardy.

That is when Ahlstrand turned his shotgun toward the animal.

“I didn’t have time to aim through the sights, but I aimed in the direction of the head on this thing and I pulled the trigger before it got to me. It just dropped,” Ahlstrand said.

The resident said that he had armed himself because he thought the bear had been prowling around his property in recent days and he was afraid for his life.

But for acting in self-defense, Ahlstrand is now charged with illegally killing a bear, illegally baiting a bear, illegal possession of a firearm and failing to secure a weapon.

From the safety of their offices and never having been involved in the incident, Police claimed they “don’t think” the bear was dangerous.

Naturally, Ahlstrand feels he is being unfairly attacked by authorities.

“They got me set up now like I’m some kind of murderer. And then the environmental guy told me ‘You should have called me instead of shooting it.’ What was I going to do, say ‘Mister Bear would excuse me please while I go make a phone call?'”